AS THE VOICE UK moves on to the Battle Rounds, presenter Emma Willis reveals she may have already found the winner

Emma Willis, the presenter of The Voice UK prepares for the Battle Rounds of the show [BBC]

The blind auditions are over and Tom Jones, will.i.am, Ricky Wilson and Kylie Minogue each have 12 artists in their teams. Now the coaches must prepare for a singing showdown as The Voice UK moves on to the Battle Rounds.

These rounds see two acts from the same team – chosen by their coach – go head to head in a duelling duet. But afterwards, the coach can choose only one of the pair – the one who has impressed most with their vocal talent – to go to the next stage of the competition.

However, in a thrilling twist, rival coaches can “steal” a losing artist for their own team, giving the acts a second chance in the show that aims to find Britain’s next singing superstar.

One woman who’s rooting for all the performers is The Voice UK presenter Emma Willis, who admits that she gets emotionally attached to the contestants.

“I have cried quite a few times,” Emma says. “I am a bit of a soft touch, to be honest, and so I really felt for the contestants.

You are willing them on. You really want them to succeed.

“For some, you also see their whole dream crumble in front of them. But even when people have not gone through, they have said the experience alone was phenomenal. The input from the coaches and production team is priceless. In that way, I find it such a positive show. Will, especially, is very happy to give out his email address to people he thinks are amazing. Even if you don’t get through, you walk out with will.i.am’s email address!”

Emma says she has nothing but admiration for all of the contestants as they perform in front of the A-list panel and a live audience.

“Some of the contestants are shaking so much. Some people have never sung on stage before – they have only ever sung at a barbecue,” she says. “And so to go out there on the stage and sing in front of 600 people – let alone the huge superstars listening to them – is scary. The coaches are big names. It must be terrifying.”

The Voice UK, Tonight 7PM, BBC1 [BBC]

I think there is one contestant who has got the whole package. But I will say no more!

Emma Willis

The 37-year-old presenter, who also hosted Channel 5’s Celebrity Big Brother earlier this year, is married to McBusted singer Matt Willis, who has branched out into acting, appearing in Birds Of A Feather and EastEnders.

Emma says that watching Matt’s pop career has given her a better understanding of the highs and lows of the music industry.

“I have seen first-hand what it is like to have a huge amount of success. I have also seen first-hand what it is like to lose that success. I do have a lot of empathy with the acts as I have seen it [the music industry] at its best and at its worst. It is not easy,” she says.

Another person who knows exactly what the contestants are going through is Emma’s co-presenter, Marvin Humes. Marvin was a member of boy band JLS, who enjoyed chart success after competing on The X Factor in 2008.

“Marvin has invaluable experience and knowledge of how the contestants feel and what they are going through. He is really in touch with them on that level,” Emma reveals. “He is so easy-going.

“We hang out together in-between filming and it is really nice to be doing a show with someone you get on with. We both have kids of a similar age and so we talk about babies a lot.”

Emma, who is mum to Isabelle, four, and two-year-old Ace, has proved a huge hit with viewers with her down-to-earth presenting style. She confesses that she is delighted at how her TV career is progressing, although she’s careful not take it for granted.

“It’s all good at the minute – but you never know, it might all go terribly,” she laughs.

Emma predicts that the contestants of The Voice UK also have a bright future and believes she may have already spotted this year’s winner.

“In my opinion, there are three potential winners,” she says. “I am not one of the coaches or the audience, but I would say there are three who are outstanding.

“One in particular, I think, has got the whole package. But I will say no more!”